My father died recently and my brother has moved in with my mother, and has been living there for six months. He has put his own house up for sale. I live in my own house. Our parents will split everything 50/50 between my brother and me.

When our mother passes away, will my brother have any rights to the house given that he will have lived there for a period of time? Will he have to pay me half if he wishes to remain living there? Also, he has been living there rent- and bill-free and will continue to do so until our mother's death. Do I have any rights to compensation? GP

No, you don't have a right to compensation for the fact your brother is living with your mother rent-free, and I can't see why you think you should have as the situation has not caused you to be out of pocket.

What happens on your mother's death will be determined by what her will says – your parents would have had a will each and not a joint will as you seem to think. The fact your brother has been living with your mother doesn't give him any rights to continue to occupy the home. However, if her will says that he can, he will be able to if he is already a joint owner – this may be the case if your father's will left the property to you and your brother, but gave your mother the right to live in it until her death.

As to whether your brother will have to pay you for half your mother's house after her death, it again depends on what her will says. If everything is to be split 50/50 between you and your brother the property will become jointly owned by you and him and he will need to buy your share from you if he doesn't want the house to be sold.